Graph sensing device



April 1953 R. 0. HANCOCK GRAPH SENSING DEVICE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March 12, 1951 u f I ff-:55: a

I09 Plum/r Arron/v6) Patented Apr. 14, 1953 GRAPH SENSING DEVICE Robert D. Hancock, Compton, Califi, assignor to Northrop Aircraft, Inc., Hawthorne, Califi, a corporation of California Application March 12, 1951, Serial No. 215,165

12 Claims. (Cl. 250-219) The present invention relates to function generators, and, more particularly, to optical means for generating a function in terms of pulses.

Among the objects of the invention are:

, To provide a means for generating a function in terms of pulses.

To provide a function generator suitable for operating a computer.

To provide an optical means for generating a function in terms of pulses.

To provide a function generating system in which the function to be generated can readily be changed.

To provide a simple and accurate function generator.

In brief, the present invention in one form includes means for rotating a cylindrical graph having adjoining main areas of different signal producing character, one of the junctions between said main areas being shaped with respect to a base line as the relationship between an independent and a dependent variable. One of said main areas is also provided with longitudinal signal producing lines equally spaced thereon. Sensing device responsive to the character of the signal producing areas is moved along the cylinder as the cylinder is rotated. The main area with the lines thereon produces a series of pulses representing the distance between the junction of said main areas and the base line. These pulses can then be used as a representation of the relation of the dependent to the in dependent variable.

The invention can be more fully understood by reference to the ensuing description of the at tached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view looking toward one end of one form of function generator embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the other end of the device of Figure 1, viewed as indicated by the arrow 2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a graph in planar coordinates of a function, suitable for use in conjunction with the machine of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of an increment counting device as applied to the device of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified type of increment counting device.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an increment counting device as connected to apply longitudinal increments to the pulse pickup of the device of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring first to Figure 1, a motor 1, connected to a power source by means of motor leads 2, is connected to a cylinder 3 by means of shaft 4. The cylinder 3 is fashioned from a transparent or translucent material, glass for example, and has a plurality of opaque lines 5 afiflxed on the external surface orientated so that they are parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylinder 3. A drive gear 6 rigidly attached to shaft 4, and a driven gear 1, which is rigidly attached to a lead screw 8, mesh to transmit rotary motion from motor I to lead screw 8. A photocell 9 is rigidly attached to a traveling unit 10 having a support collar II. The support collar H is slidably mounted on a guide bar 12, which is supported by guide bar and lead screw supports 13.

The interior of drum 3 is illuminated by means of lamp 15. as best shown in Figure 2. Lamp socket l6 and lamp leads I! provide a support and an electrical connection to the lamp l5. Lamp support 18 maintains the position of lamp socket i6, hence lamp I5, such that the interior of cylinder 3 is substantially uniformly illuminated.

In addition to the fine opaque lines 5, one wider opaque line I9 is placed on or in the circumference of the cylinder, having its edges parallel to the lines 5 and hence to the axis of rotation of the cylinder (see Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6) One edge of line 19 will form the base line for the graph.

A graph to be employed in the present invention can be formed in accordance with Figure 3. Referring to Figure 3, values of an independent variable are made to be proportional to distances measured from right to left, along base line 20 or 21. Corresponding to each independent variable is a value for a dependent variable which is laid off as a distance normal to base lines 20 and 2!. The curve 22 is the result of plotting the dependent variable values for all independent variable values.

A preferred form of graph, shown in Figures 1 and 3 consists of a transparent or translucent portion 24 and an opaque or reduced transmission portion 23 with the dividing line 22 being the plot of dependent variable values. Such a graph may be fashioned from a clear sheet of plastic material, for example, by painting, or otherwise filling in the opaque section 23.

This graph is then wrapped around the outside or inserted inside of the cylinder 3, as shown in Figure 1, so that the base lines 20 and 2| lie within and are masked by the wide opaque line l9 and are parallel to the axis of rotation of cylinder 3. Dotted line 21a. in Figure 3 indicates where one edge of opaque line l9 will be when the graph is mounted. This line Zia then can be used as a base line from which measurements are made to create graph 22.

In operation, the motor I is energized by applying a proper voltage across motor leads 2. R- tation of the rotor of motor l causes. rotation of shaft drive gear'fi, cylinder-'3, driven? gear 1, and lead screw 8. A cooperative action between traveling unit it] and lead screw 8 causes a translation motion, parallel to the axis of rotation ofcylinder 3, of the photocell 9, traveling unit I18,

and the support collar l I. Guide bar supports l3 maintain the guide bar [2' is a. desired position with respect to the cylinder 3'; guide bar [2-, in a co-action with support collar H, prevents rotation of photocell 3.

As the cylinder 3 rotates, the photocell 9 advances so that one revolution of the cylinder causes the photocell to move a distance equal to one increment of the dependentvariable asplotted. For a part of each revolution of the cylinder 3 lightwill be transmitted from the lamp I5, through the cylinder and the graph to the photocell. However, this light transmission will not be continuous since-the opaque lines will interrupt the light beamto the photocell, thereby causing a pulsed or'modulated. voltage output in photocell'lead' Hi.

When asinglevalue ofthe independent variable is considered, it is evident that the number of pulses in the photocell lead" t l, during a revolution of cylinder 3-, when photocell 8. is in aposition corresponding to this value of the independent variable, is proportional to the value of the dependent variable. In efiect the sum of the pulseoutputs on photoceil'lead i iduringone revolution of cylinder 3 is a measure of the dis.- tance from the edge of wide opaque line 16 to the. curve 22 and is, therefore, a reversal of the operation performed during the construction of the graph.

A variation in the number of independent variable values available can be achievedby altering the gear teeth ratio between drive gear 8 and driven gear 'l or by altering the pitch'oflead screw 8.

The pulses in photocell lead M can be applied to a computer C as shown in. Figure 1, through amplifier A, and may be applied to relays controlling the power input to a motor, or the like.

The invention, however, is also adapted to.detect changes in. the independent variable as well as to measure th value of? the dependent variable. Referring next to Figure-4, a portion of. the wide opaque line R3,, for example, can be made conductive. Two contactszb and. 25' are then. positionedso'that they intercept this, conductive portion. once every revolution and thereby cause a short circuit, between contacts ZEi-and 26 and detect a unit change of the independent variable value.

A. switch 23, of Figure 5, performs a similar operation, in detecting a change in: value of the independent variable,,to thev contacts 25 and 255-. An actuating cam 28 is attached, to the cylinder 3 in such a position that it actuates'the switch 29 once'every revolution of the. cylinder. This is accomplished. by causing a-follower 3 iof switch 29 to bear against cylinder 3 and lie in a path on the cylinder that includes. cain28. When cam 23. passes under follower 3l, switch 29 either opens or) closes a circuit containing switch leads 39, thereby indicatinga unit change in themdependent variable.

The pulses in switch leads 30 can be used to control the power input to a pulse motor. As shown in Figure 6, switch leads 30 are connected to a pulse motor 32 which drives the lead screw 8. Once every revolution of the cylinders 3, switch 29 will be actuated to energize switch leads 30, thereby causing pulse motor 32 to rotate through a specified amount of rota tionr Rotation of pulse motor 32 results in rotation of lead screw 8 and in translation of photocell 9. This method of controlling the motor of photocell 9 affords: an advantage in that the distance, corresponding to a value of the dependent variable, is measured along a. line normal to the base lines 29, and 21 ,just as it was when the graph was laid out.

If desired; the. output from contact leads 2! or from switch leads 30 can be applied to a computer, for example, to supplement the input to the computer coming from photocell lead 14.

WhileI have described my invention as using aphotocell pickup; this being acenvenient, accurate and'preferred signal sensing device, I desire it to be distinctly understood that othertypes" of signal producing areas may be mounted oncylinder 3 with signal producing lines of the same-type and a pickup used that will sensethe particular type of signal producing areasused; Thus, area; 3a, lines 5 and: i3,,can be conductive and'electrically connected, thepickup then being a wiper contact. Or, for example; the area 30., lines 5 and 19, may berecorded on magnetic material with a magnetic pickup utilized.

From the above description'it willbe apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated. as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departingufromethe principle involved orsacrificing any of itsadvantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in. language more or less specific as to structural features; itisto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but'that' the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred forms of putting the invention into eifect, and the invention is, therefore, claimed in. any of its forms or modifications within the legimitate and valid scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A function generator-comprising acylinderl having a plurality of equally spaced signalprorducing lines; on the periphery; thereof. said: lines being parallel and. parallel to the. axis of said cylinder, means for. rotating said. cylinder on, its axis, one of said lines being substantially and uniformly wider thanthe remainder of said lines; signal pickup means adjacent the periphery;- of saidcylinder responsive'to movement ofj'saidlines to produce a pulse for each line, and driving means for moving saidpickup means alonga path parallel to the axis of the rotating cylinder at a speed proportionalv to the rotation of; said cylinder, whereby a long pulse spaced; by a plu.- rality of shorter pulses will be produced by said signal pickup for each revolution of, said cylinder.

2. Apparatusin accordance with claim 1. wherein means arev provided to covera substantial. area along said cylinder including said lines. to: dividesaid cylinder into a signal producing area and a signal preventing area.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided to cover a substantial area along said cylinder including said lines to divide said cylinder into a signal producing area and a signal preventing area, and wherein the junction of said areas is a line representing a graph of a function as measured from one edge of said wider line at right angles thereto.

4:. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided to cover a substantial area along said cylinder including said lines to divide said cylinder into a signal producing area and a signal preventing area, and wherein the junction of said areas is a line representing a graph of a function as measured from one edge of said wider line at right angles thereto, said graph representing the relationship between an independent a dependent variable.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided to produce a pulse representing each revolution of said cylinder, and wherein said driving means is a motor driven by said revolution pulse.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a mask is provided to be mounted on said cylinder, said mask having a portion preventing said pickup from responding to said lines.

'1. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a mask is provided to be mounted on said cylinder, said mask having a portion preventing said pickup from responding to said lines, one edge of said portion being shaped to represent the relationship between an independent and a dependent variable whereby the pulse output of said pickup represents said relationship in terms of pulses.

8. A function generator comprising a cylinder of light transmitting material, means for rotating said cylinder, said cylinder having a plurality of equally spaced parallel light obstrucillg lines thereon extending parallel to the axis of said cylinder, a light source inside of said cylinder, a light responsive pickup outside of said cylinder, and means for progressing said pickup along said cylinder over a path parallel to the axis of said cylinder at a speed proportional to the rotation of said cylinder.

9. A function generator comprising a cylinder of light transmitting material, means for rotating said cylinder, said cylinder having a plurality of equally spaced parallel light obstructing lines thereon extending parallel to the axis of said cylinder, a light source inside of said cylinder, a light responsive pickup outside of said cylinder, and means for progressing said pickup along said cylinder over a path parallel to the axis of said cylinder at a speed proportional to the rotation of said cylinder, one of said lines 6 being wider than the remainder to produce a special pulse once every revolution of said cylinder.

16. A function generator comprising a cylinder of light transmitting material, means for rotating said cylinder, said cylinder having a plurality of equally spaced parallel light obstructing lines thereon extending parallel to the axis of said cylinder, a light source inside of said cylinder, a light responsive pickup outside of said cylinder, and means for progressing said pickup along said cylinder over a path parallel to the axis of said cylinder at a speed proportional to the rotation of said cylinder, one of said lines bein wider than the remainder to produce a special pulse once every revolution of said cylinder, and a mask mounted on said cylinder, said mask having a light transmitting portion and a light obstructing portion covering specific portions of the lines on said cylinder whereby the number of pulses produced by said pickup will difier from the number produced by the unmasked cylinder.

11. A function generator comprising a cylinder of light transmitting material, means for rotating said cylinder, said cylinder having a plurality of equally spaced parallel light obstructing lines thereon extending parallel to the axis of said cylinder, a light source inside of said cylinder, a light responsive pickup outside of said cylinder, and means for progressing said pickup along said cylinder over a path parallel to the axis of said cylinder at a speed proportional to the rotation of said cylinder, one of said lines being wider than the remainder to produce a special pulse once every revolution of said cylinder, and a mask mounted on said cylinder, said mask having a light transmitting portion and. a light obstructing portion covering specific portions of the lines on said cylinder whereby the number of pulses produced by said pickup will differ from the number produced by the unmasked cylinder, the junction between said light transmitting area and said light obstructing area being formed into a curve extending along said cylinder and representing the relation of an independent to a dependent variable.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said mask is rectangular and mounted on said cylinder with two edges thereof within the edges of said wider line.

ROBERT D. HANCOCK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,086,798 Greenberg July 13, 1937 2,179,600 Tea Nov. 7, 1939 2,360,883 Metcalf Oct. 24, 1944 

